Duke (5-2) vs. Pitt (3-4) Game Preview

One Reason Why Duke Will Win

Kenny Pickett might be a good-looking young quarterback, but he has yet to throw for 200 yards this year and has thrown just four touchdown passes in the six games against FBS teams.

He’s able to dink and dunk a bit, but Pitt is trying to win on the ground, and it’s not working.

The Blue Devil defensive front has been a rock. It’s great at getting behind the line, and it’s going to be effective against a mediocre Panther offensive front.

Duke has allowed only 200 rushing yards once, and that was against Georgia Tech and its option attack. The Pitt running game is okay, but it’s been inconsistent. Get up early, make the Panthers throw, and things should be okay, but …

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This is a rested team at home that should be able to control the clock against a suddenly punchless Blue Devil team.

Duke was never putting up points in bunches against good teams, but it’s fizzled out in ACC play, only managing 14 touchdowns against both Virginia and Virginia Tech. And why? The running game isn’t going anywhere.

The Blue Devils stalled on the ground against Northwestern early in the season with just 97 yards, and they haven’t been able to hit the 100-yard mark in any of the last three games. The Panther defensive front hasn’t been amazing, but it’s been good enough.

It might not always be smooth, but Pitt is great at keeping the ball, and Duke is dead last in the ACC in time of possession, holding the ball for under 27 minutes a game.

The game should stay at a manageable level for the rested Panthers to stay in control.

What’s Going To Happen

Pitt has been close to being okay, but it hasn’t been able to come through in key moments for wins. It had its chances against North Carolina and Notre Dame, but couldn’t get it done.

It can’t handle explosive teams that push the tempo and turn games into track meets. That’s not Duke.

The two weeks off and the home field will be the difference. This will be a low-scoring, tight game that the Panthers should be able to get through and survive. The defensive front will get in the backfield just enough, and Duke’s O won’t be able to push the temp enough.